Leon E. Geiss

Born Aug. 3, 1927, in Symerton, Ill., to the late Leone and Ellen (Dixon) Geiss, Gene farmed in the rural Wilmington/ Florence Township area all of his life, until he retired in 2008.

He is a veteran of the United States Army, having served in Korea from March 1954 to January 1956. Before and after his service, he was employed by the U.S. Rubber Company.

He was a member of the VFW Post #5422 in Wilmington, Will County Farm Bureau and the Will County Threshermen’s Association. Gene had a passion for farming and was an avid collector of antique Farmall tractors.

Surviving are his wife, Lois (Erickson) Geiss of Wilmington, whom he married March 28, 1965, in Joliet; one daughter, Lois “Bunny” Hemphill of Elwood, Ill.; two grandchildren, Jayson (Kristina) Hemphill of Woodstock, Ill., and Rayna (Timothy) Brophy of Joliet, Ill.; three great-grandchildren, Taylar Grace, Braden Eugene and Daniel Brophy; two brothers, Laverne (the late Jewellane) Geiss of Peotone, Ill., and Donald (Adella) Geiss of Wilmington; three sisters-in-law, Margaret, Norma, and Freida Geiss, all of Wilmington; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Preceding him in death were four brothers, Calvin, Ervin (Rose), Orville, and Merle Geiss.

Funeral services will be at the R.W. Patterson Funeral Homes, Ltd. & Crematory, Braidwood Chapel,at 10:30 a.m. Monday, Nov. 26. Interment with military honors will be in Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery, Elwood.

Visitation will be from 2 to 7 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 25, at the funeral home.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations in his name to the VFW Post #5422 at 557 W. Baltimore St., Wilmington, IL, 60481, or the Will County Threshermen’s Association, 1100 Tracy Drive, Morris, IL, 60450, would be appreciated.

R.W. Patterson Funeral Homes, Braidwood Chapel, 401 E. Main St., Braidwood, is in charge of arrangements. For additional information, call the funeral home at (815) 458-2336.